Apparatus for the production of high-pressure acetylene



May 26, 1925. 1,539,409

L. REITZ APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HIGH PRESSURE ACETYLENE FiledNov. 14 1924 3 s t s t' 1 JMHMLA,

May 26, '1 925. 1,539,409

r L. REITZ APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HIGH PRESSURE ACETYLENE Filed Nov. 14. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 26, 1925. 1,539,409

L. REITZ APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HIGH PRESSURE ACETYLENE FiledNovi 14. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet s Patented May 1925.

UNTTE STATES aren't LUDYVIG REI'IZ, O35 DU-SSELDORF-ELLER, GERMANY.

APEARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HIGH--PRESSUBE ACETYLENE.

Application filed November 14, 1824. Serial No, 749,878.

To all whom 'it may concern:

lie it known that I, Lunwru llinrrz, citizen ot Germany, residing at AltEller Nr. 27, l)usseloort-Eller, Germany, have invented new and usefulImprovements in an Apparatus for the Production of lTigh-PressureJicetylene, of which the following is a specilication.

The invention relates to an apparatus for the production orhigh-pressure acetylene troin carbine, the pressure being produced bythe admission of water under pressure. Apparatus oi this type havebecome'known in which the water under pressure is forced into the closedgenerator by means of a hand-punn).

This working method is not advantageous owing to the considerableexpenses for attendance and to the ditiiculty to accurately regulate thepressure.

According to the invention the attendance by hand and the expense ofenergy tor the production of pressure are rendered unnecessary, and atthe same time an accurate regulation of the pressure is obtained byconnecting the generating chamber with a conduit. for water underpressure, a pressure reducing valve being inserted. it is further otadvantage to connect with the water space of the generator a closedpressure-equalizing vessel comprising an airor gas bolster. In thismanner the pressure of the water admitted, which is, a priori, adjustedin the reducing valve, is transmitted to the gas generator andmaintained therein automatically up to the consumption of the carbide inthe generator even when great fluctuations occur in the withdrawing ofgas and when carbides are used which do not gasity uniformly. In orderto produce continuously great quantities of gas in an economical mannerthe ar rangcment can be made, according to the invention, that severalidentical generators, the gas and water-spaces of which communiatepermanently with one another, work simultaneously and co-operate likeone single generator of corresponding size. To provide acetylene plantswith several generators has been already proposed, but in plants of thistype the several generators work alternately in order to make theWOl'h'ill continuous, while, according to the invention, the severalgenerators of one set are connected with one another so that they worksimultaneously and at the same pressure, the water spaces as well as thegas spaces oi the several generators communicating with one another sothat equalization between the same must take place continuously.

Two forms of construction ot a generating plant according to theinvention are shown by way of example on the accon1- panying drawing inwhich:

Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically in elevation a generator according to theinvention.

Figs. 2 and 3 show a generating plant. con sisting of two generatorscommunicating with one another and working both at the same time, saidplant being designed for cuttingandsoldering purposes, and of these Fig.2 shows the plant in side elevation the one generator being shown partlyin section.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2.

In the form of construction, diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1, thegenerator consists of a vessel 1 closed by a lid A and containing aconvenient number of carbide receptacles These carbide receptacles 3consist of wire ca 'essuspended into the generator vessel at the upperend of the same. On the top plate of vessel 1 the gas discharge pipe 1-is mounted and with the lower end of vessel 1 a pressure compensationvessellO is connected by means of a wide tubular con nection 11. Intothis vessel 10, which is gas tightly closed, the Water 01 the generatorflows through the tubular connection 11 from below so that in the upperpart of vessel an air or gas-bolster is formed. The generator vessel 1is further connected by a pipe C with a receptacle 15, which iscompletely enclosed and in which a float n is arranged, which, throughthe intermediary of a lever 0, controls the inlet valve 29 of a waterpipe B for water under pressure. This receptacle is mounted at such aheight that the float n closes the inlet valve p at the highest waterlevel in the generator vessel 1. The water under pressure flows from a.pipe 12 through a pressure reducing valve 13 into pipe B and through thefloat vessel 15 and tube G into the generator vessel 1. The pressurereducing valve 13 comprises a dia phragm (Z which is loaded by a spring0 the pressure of which is adapted to be regulated by means of a screw7, said spring acting upon the rod 3) of a valve 0 which controls thepassage through a horizontal partition on so that the pressure of theWater supplied through pipe 12 is reduced to the pressure at which thespring 6 is adjusted. With the lower part of the generator vessel 1 anoutflow valve 28 is connected by a tubular connection D, said outletvalve operating automatically when a predetermined maximum pressure isexceeded so that water flows out of the generator vessel 1. This outletvalve 28 comprises a diaphragm is which is loaded by a spring Z thepressureot which can be regulated by means of a screw m. This diaphragmZc controls the rod c' of the valve 71. So long as the pressure ofspring L is greater than the pressure in the generator vessel 1 valve his pressed on the seat formed by the upper end of the outflow pipe 9.

The operation of this apparatus is as follows:

hen, a fresh charge having been lilled into the carbide cages 3, the lidA of the generator vessel 1 has been-closed and the cock not shown ofthe water pipe 12 has been opened, the water will flow into thegenerator vessel 1 at the pressure for which the pressure reducing valve13 has been adjusted, for instance 1 atm. above the atmosphericpressure, until the waterlevel arrives at the carbide in the cages 3.The water flows at the same time through the tubular connection 11 intothe pressurecompensation vessel in which it rises in compressing the gasbolster. The pressure of the gas generated by the decomposition of thecarbide by the water prevents a further inflow of water into,vessel 1and into the pressure compensation vessel 10 as soon as the pressure ofthe gas in vessel 1 and the pressure of the gas in vessel 10 are equalto the pressure adjusted in the pressure re ducing valve, viz 1 atm.above atmospheric pressure. The inflow of water ceases, and theapparatus continues to work automatically without further admission ofwater until the carbide has been completely consumed. It acetylene iswithdrawn from the generator, whereby the pressure in vessel 1 isreduced, the air bolster in vessel 10 expands immediately and the waterin vessel 1 rises until it comes again in contact with the carbide. Bythe gas freshly generated the pressure in the generator vessel 1 isincreased to the predetermined degree. If however the discharge ot gasis suddenly interrupted, the pressure in the generator will increase sothat the water is forced from vessel 1 into vessel 10. In this mannerthe generation of gas is interrupted. The outflow valve 28 serves merelyas safety valve in case a higher pressure than the predeterminedpressure should be produced by after-generation, e. g. when thispressure exceedsfor instance 1.3 atm. The air compressed in the pressurecompensation vessel 10 serves as spring for moving the water column forcompensating irregularities in the gasifying of'the carbide and in thedischarge of gas.

The float receptacle begins to operate after the carbide has beencompletely decomposed. In this case the water rises as high as theadjusting of the float permits. If this highest Water level has beenreached the inflow of water is automatically shut oil so that no watercan get into the gas discharge pipe 4.

For generators of small size this float rcceptacle is not required.

In order to be able to produce large quantities of gas with apparatus ofthis construction without increasing the size of the generator, a plantas shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is used. This plant, which is intended forcutting and soldering, comprises two generators constructed as describedand connected with one another in such a manner that they worksimultaneously.

The water spaces of the gene ators 1 and 2 are connected the one withthe other by the pipes 14 and 12 (Fig. 8) and the gas spaces arepermanently connected the one with the other by a pipe 2% at the upperends of the generators serving for equalizing the pressure and by a pipe5 which connects the two gas outlet pipes 41.. The water level and thegas pressure will therefore always be equal in the two generators 1, 2and the generating of acetylene from the carbide in the cages 3 of thetwo generators will consequently be always uniform.

Each generator 2 and l is connected with a pressure compensation vessel9 or 10 respectively by tubular connections 11. The water under pressureis supplied by water pipe 12, the pressure of the water being regulatedby a pressure reducing valve 13.

The gas generated in the two generators flows into the pipe 5 andthrough a tubular connection 19, having a cock, into the water seal andwasher consisting of two water vessels 6 and 8 connected the one withthe other by a tubular connection 7. The gas which flows into watervessel 6 forces all the water out and passes through the tubularconnection 7 into the lower end of water vessel 8, rises through thewater in this vessel, and flows out through tube into a pipe 21, andthrough this pipe into one of the two purifiers 22 which are alternatelyput in service.

The float receptacle 15 serves for regulating the height of the waterlevel in the generators l and 2 and it is connected with the same bytubes 16 and 12 (Fig. 3). hen the pressure in the generators decreasesowing to consumption of gas the automatically acting valve 13 entersinto operation and the pressure is compensated by re-filling thegenerators with water. The pressure compensation vessels 9 and 10 arefilled with water at the same time in accordance with the height of thewater pressure in the generators. At sudden withdrawing of a lit) lit)

. 11011 the carbide in the cages has been exhausted the water risesuntil the water level reaches the height of the float receptacle 15,

connected with the generators by the tubes l2 and 10, whereupon thefloat is lifted and shuts oil. the admission of water through pipe 17.

The central water seal orwasher 6, 7, 8 is tilled with water from thewater main 12 through a connecting pipe 18 having a cock.

The gas discharge takes place generally through the line-regulatingvalve 23 in which terminate the conduits coming from the purifiers 22.Then the plant serves for soldering or cutting, the oxygen is taken fromone or two parallel-connected oxygen bottles 26, through theintermediary of a correspmiding special pressure-reducing valve 26 and afine-regulating valve 27 by which the oxygen is brought to the desiredpressure. The two valves 23 and 27 for acetylene and oxygen guarantee anabsolutely unitorn'i pressure-regulation.

The connecting pipes 12 and 14: for the water spaces of the generators 1and 2 may be preferably used also for refilling water simultaneouslyinto both generators. The connecting pipes tor the spaces of thegenerators l and 2, especially pipe 24, may also be used For dischargingair. With this object in view a cock 25 is inserted in pipe 24.

As will be understood from the above description the pressure mustalways be equal and the generating of gas must always be uniform in thetwo parallel-connected generators 1 and 2, the gasand water spaces ofwhich are permanently connected with one another so that the twogenerators act together like one single generator of greater dimensions.It the plant has to work continuously a second aggregate of generators,of similar construction as described and shown, must be provided whichworks alternately with the first aggregate. Any number of simultaneouslyworking generators may be used.

3y the arrangement described considerable advantages, in comparison withthe use ot one single generator for higher pressure and ofcorrespondingly greater dimensions, are obtained viz (1) The generatorsof the plant according to the invention do not require such thick platesof sheet metal as generators of the same capacity which are now in use,as the thickness of the sheet iron must not only increase in the sameproportion as the .volume of the generator but in a considerably greaterproportion in order to ensure the required security of service.

(2) The cost of erection oi the plant according to the invention'isconsiderably lower as, even for plants of very great eliiciency, it ispossible to use generators made exclusively by tinsmiths, the other muchlarger generators, commonly used, requiringboiler-smiths work.

. (3) In acetylene plants with larger sized generators the weight of theelements of the generator to be moved at every fresh charge becomesson'ietimes so great that the charging is unwieldly and ditlicult. Forthis reason the size of generators was limited, and in cases where agenerator of normal size was not sutlicient several complete generatorswith washers and purifiers-were to be connected with one gas holder. Theseparate washers and other auxiliary apparatus increased however thecost of the plant, required more space and higher expenses forattendance, as every generator plant has to be attended separately. According to the invention it is possible to considerably reduce theweight of the elements to be moved at fresh charging and to increase theoutput of the plant to any desired degree without however making thearea of the plant considerably greater nor increasing the cost ofattendance very much in comparison with that for one generator ofgreater size.

The working of the plant regulates itself automatically at thesimultaneous working of the several generators owing to the innerpressure-equalination between the generators of one aggregate so that nosnpervision is required.

The constructional details could evidently be altered without exceedingthe limits of the invention. Instead of the generator with suspendedcarbide cages any other type of generator might be used in which thegeneration of the gas is regulated by rising or sinking of the water inthe generator. The arrangement and construction of the several elementsof the plant may. also differ from those described and shown.

Having now iiarticularly described and ascertained the nature 01 my saidinvention, I declare that what I claim is f 1. In an appa 'atus forgenerating highpressure acetylene gas, comprising a closed generatoradapted to operate under a predetermined pressure and containing a waterspace and a carbide holder, a conduit for supplying water to thegenerator and an automatic pressure regulating device in said waterconduit, said pressure regulating device cooperating with the generatorand opera-ting to supply water thereto when the pressure in thegenerator drops below the predetermined pressure.

2. In an apparatus for generating highpressnre acetylene gas, comprisinga closed generator adapted to operate under a predetermined pressure andcontaining a water space and a carbide holder, aconduit for supplyingwater to the generator, an auto matic pressure regulating device in saidwater conduit, said pressure regulating device cooperating with thegenerator and op erating to supply water thereto when the pressure inthe generator drops below the predetermined pressure, and a closed pressure compensating vessel adapted to enclose an air bolster and connectedwith the water space of the generator.

3. In an apparatus for generating highpressure acetylene gas, comprisinga closed generator adapted to operate under a predetermined pressure andcontaining a water space and a carbide holder, a conduit for supplyingwater to the generator, an auto matic pressure regulating device in saidwater conduit, a closed receptacle in said water conduit between thegenerator and pressure regulating device, and float controlled means insaid closed receptacle adapted to interrupt the inlet of water into thereceptacle when the water therein rises above a predetermined level,said pressure regulating device and float controlled means cooperatingwith the generator and operating to supply water thereto when thepressure in the generator drops below a predetermined level.

4. In an apparatus for generating highpressure acetylene gas, comprisinga closed generator adapted to operate under a predetermined pressure andcontaining a water space and a carbide holder, a conduit for supplyingwater to the generator, an autoniatic pressure regulating device in saidwater conduit, a closed receptacle in said water conduit between thegenerator and pressure regulating device, float controlled means insaidvclosed receptacle adapted to interrupt the inlet of water into thereceptacle when the water therein rises above a predetermined level,said pressure regulating device and float controlled means coopcratingwith the generator and operating to supply water thereto when thepressure in the generator drops below a predetermined level, and aclosed pressure compensating vessel adapted to enclose an air bolsterand connected with the water space of the generator.

5. In an apparatus for generating highpressure acetylene gas, comprisinga closed generator adapted to operate under a predetermined pressure andcontaining a water space and a carbide holder, a conduit for supplyingwater to the generator, an automatic pressure regulating device in saidwater conduit, a closed receptacle in said water conduit between thegenerator and pressure regulating device, said pressure regulatingdevice cooperating with the generator and operating to supply waterthereto when the pressure in the generator drops below the predeterminedpressure, an adjustable outlet valve connected with the water space ofthe generator and means for automatically opening said valve when thepressure in the generator exceeds a predetermined maximum pressure.

. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

LUDWIG nnrrz.

lVitnesses HnINz IV. Haas, WILLIAM E. LANE.

